As Florida Baptist Churches we have invested for years in the mission of the Florida Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention and our local Association. These have been our major missionary arms of our churches. All three have been involved in and are undergoing major transitions.
Our cultural changes and our economic recession have changed the mission giving habits of our people and our churches. These changes are not likely to reverse themselves. Our mission agencies are going to have to refocus and revision what God is calling them to do in light of today’s and tomorrow’s realities.
The Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) has had to drastically trim its staff. A Convention web-site article says, “A massive reorganization and restructuring of the Florida Baptist Convention staff to streamline it for efficiency and effectiveness and bring church planting to a higher organizational level were among several key pieces of business approved by the State Board of Missions meeting September 23 at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.”
Bob Bumgarner from the FBC will speak at our annual meeting. He will share with us the scope and nature of the re-organizational plans. This is a report on how the FBC is revisioning and refocusing itself as our state wide missions agency.
The Emerald Coast Fellowship of Baptist Churches has already reorganized and is facing the reality of reduced missions giving. The Administrative Team decided last week, that if necessary, we would utilize some reserve funds to supplement the budget through the end of the year. We will evaluate the proposed income for next year during December and suggest changes in our proposed 2012 budget at the January Executive Committee meeting.
Traditionally, two of our churches have carried 50% of our income. These two churches have significantly cut their gifts to the Association to meet other pressing budget priorities. As one pastor wrote me, “Perhaps 2012 will be a time of opportunity for churches in the association to step up their financial commitment.”
These are not easy days for our conventions, associations or churches. We must pray diligently for God’s guidance. We must refocus on what God is calling us to do. We must press forward to that high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
